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By Samuel Peters
Captain Tanez Francis produced a timely knock to guide the Leeward Islands Tropical Wave to a hard-fought draw against Jamaica in their opening encounter of the CWI Rising Stars Under-17 Tournament at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground.
The match began with the Tropical Wave being dismissed for 96 in their first innings. Jamaica responded with 75, thanks largely to Tilokani’s devastating spell that saw him claim four wickets for just seven runs in 7.2 overs.
Francis, who had managed only 20 in the first innings, showed his class and temperament in the second dig. Coming to the crease with his team looking to set a challenging target, the captain anchored the innings with a composed knock that lasted nearly four hours.
He found valuable support from Tilokani, who contributed 49 runs to complement his remarkable bowling figures, and the aggressive Lythe Browne, who scored a brisk 25 from just 42 balls to accelerate the scoring rate.
The declaration at 236 for 8 after 66 overs left Jamaica needing 258 for victory, but the islanders had other plans. Tilokani continued his exceptional match, adding 4 more wickets to finish with remarkable match figures of 8 for 28 – a performance that will be remembered for years to come.
Jamaica showed tremendous character in their second innings, with Odane Binns (45 from 92 balls) and Demarco Scott (43 from 112 balls) leading a spirited resistance. Demario Hall provided some fireworks with a quick-fire 27 from 42 deliveries, but they ultimately fell short of the target, finishing on 195 for 7 after 69 overs.
For the new captain, the draw represented a successful start to his captaincy campaign. His leadership qualities were evident both in his patient batting and in the way he managed his bowling resources, particularly getting the best out of Tilokani’s exceptional form. The young team will meet the home side Trinidad and Tobago at the Brian Lara Academy.
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